PNP raises concerns ahead of by-election

General Secretary of the People's National Party (PNP), Julian Robinson, says that by this week, the party will announce its caretaker candidate for St Andrew North West as a by-election is pending following the resignation of the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) incumbent, Derrick Smith.

Robinson said the party was advanced in the process to select a proposed candidate to challenge the JLP's Dr Nigel Clarke, who has been selected to represent the party when the by-election is called.

He said the Government has continued the practice of spending heavily in constituencies where there are by-elections, noting that $91 million has been allocated for roadworks in that constituency.

Robinson encouraged public-sector workers to take note of the priority treatment that the Government gives to constituencies in which by-elections are called, citing what he said was "the $500 million spent in St Mary and the $800 million spent for the local government election".

He indicated that the negotiating groups should take note of the sums spent in constituencies where by-elections are called and then examine the Government's inability to fulfill wage demands.

"(When) you look at where this Government chooses to spend money and where it prioritises it, it is clear that wherever it is in their narrow partisan political interest, they find the money to do what they want to do."